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Working With a Provider

As you work on your recovery, providers can help you in many ways. They can help you to deal with current stresses, heal old traumas, make decisions about medication and develop treatment plans that reflect your goals. Choosing a mental health provider can be challenging, but make sure you match your needs with his or her experience and specialty to get the most out of your treatment.

Over time, many people with mental health conditions say that treatment helps them: feel stronger, have a greater ability to cope with symptoms, and develop skills for building their relationships and pursuing goals. In fact, most people who seek professional help feel better. For example, more than 80 percent of people treated for depression improve, and treatment for panic disorders has up to a 90 percent success rate.

You might have a team of providers, which could include some of these specialties:

therapist or counselor who can help you with your thoughts, feelings and wellness plans

psychiatrist, who can prescribe medication (and may also do therapy)

rehabilitation specialist, who helps you build skills for daily life

case manager, who can coordinate your services

peer specialist, who is a person with a mental health condition who is trained to help others with their recovery